Tag: Health benefits of food

Functional foods trace their modern roots to Japan in the 1980s, where government regulations were first established to certify foods with proven health benefits. These products sparked a global conversation about the power of food as both nourishment and medicine. But what exactly defines a functional food, distinguishing it from conventional healthy eating?

Globally, humans mostly eat just nine species of plants, with only three—rice, wheat, and maize—providing 50% of all calories consumed. This concerning lack of dietary diversity underscores precisely why we should have different food items to achieve optimal health and prevent nutritional inadequacies.

Approximately 1,400 nanograms of nicotine are consumed daily through an average diet, a fact that surprises many who associate the substance solely with tobacco. This minuscule amount of naturally occurring nicotine is found in several everyday foods, most notably certain fruits and vegetables within the nightshade family, including the tomato.

The concept of functional foods was first regulated in Japan in the 1980s, sparking a global trend toward a more proactive approach to diet. Today, an increasing number of consumers are seeking foods that offer health benefits beyond basic nutrition, defining what is meant by a functional food in modern terms.

According to the World Health Organization, millions of people worldwide suffer from malnutrition, a condition highlighting that deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in nutrient intake can significantly impair health. This statistic underscores why we need adequate food, as it is the foundation for a healthy body and mind.

Nearly half of all deaths among children under five years old are linked to undernutrition, highlighting food's critical role in survival and development. Fundamentally, food is any substance consumed by living organisms to provide essential nutrients, energy, and sustenance for growth, health, and survival. This article explores the multifaceted importance of food beyond its biological function.